Electric illuminated clock-dial



No. 6|8`,s4s. Patented 1an. 3|, |899.

n. T. CRANE, 1n. ELECTRIC ILLUMINATED CLOCK DIAL.

(Application tiled Feb. 18, 1898.

No Modem 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

No. 6I8,646. Patented Jan. 3|, |899.

.V T. CRANE, 1R. ELECTRIC ILLUMINATED CLOCK DIAL.

(Application med Feb. 1s, 189s.) (No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICIIARD T. CRANE, JR., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC ILLUMINATED CLOCK-DIAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 618,646, dated January 31, 1899.

Application filed February 18,1898. Serial No. 670,796. (No model.)

To all whom t may con/cern:

Be itknown that I, RICHARD T. CRANE, J r., a citizen oi' the United States, residing in Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and Improved Illuminated Clock or Timepiece, of which the `followin g is a speciiication.

Broadly stated, the object of my invention is to provide means for illuminating the index characters of a clock or timepiece, particularly such as are used in towers or upon the fronts of buildings, said means being arranged to illuminate each oli' the characters in turn and the whole being provided with suitable devices actuated by the mechanism ofthe timepiece to control the illuminating means.

More specifically, the object of my invention is the provision of a clock provided with suitable means for illuminating the index characters of the same, such illuminating means being arranged so that they will be controlled by the mechanism of the clock and so that as the hour-hand passes before each oi` the index characters upon the dial such index characters will be illuminated, while at the same time all oi the other index characters upon the dial are not illuminated.

In the practice of my invention I employ, preferably, a dial provided with a diaphanous portion having index characters thereon, and back of each index character I arrange an electric lamp combined with suitable circuitclosing devices, whereby said lamp is illuminated during the period when the hour-hand As a means for regulating or controlling the lighting of the different lamps in turn I provide an arrangement of contacts preferably near the center of the dial and acted upon by a brush or brushes carried around by the hour-hand.

A further object of my invention is the pro vision of an illuminated minutehand combined with suitable means for keeping the same in circuit with a source of electricity.

The above, as well as such other objects as may hereinafter appear, I have illustrated in preferred form in the accompanying drawn ings, in which Figure l is a front View of my illuminated clock. Fig.2 is a side view of the same,partly in section. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic representation showing the wiring and arrangement of the lamps; and Fig. 4 represents a modified form of dial which maybe used, if preferred.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. l and 2, it will be seen that I have shown a clock-dial 5, having the index characters arranged upon a diaphanous portion thereof G. Back of each index character I arrange an electric lamp 7, each connected in circuit between a conductor-rin g 8 and a segmental contact-piece 9, near the center of the dial. Ine side of the circle of segmental contact-pieces 9 I arrange a contact-ring l0, which is connected bya wire to a dynamo or other suitable source of electricity, the other terminal of such source oi electricity being connected to the ring 8.

Upon the hour-hand 1l I arrange a brush or brushes 12, constructed to travel around in contact with the ring IO and the segmental contact-pieces 9, for the purpose of completing the circuit between the ring and each of the contact-pieces in turn. By this arrangement, as is clearly obvious, the contact-piece, which is connected with the lamp behind the index character over which the hour-hand is passing, will be in circuit with the source of electricity and kept lighted during the whole period of time that the hour-hand is moving past; but as soon as the hour-hand passes a point midway between two index characters the brush l2 snaps over or down upon the next segmental contact-piece 9 and throws the next lamp into circuit.

Upon the outer end of the minute-hand 13 I arrange a lamp 14, connected by the wires l5, thebrush 16,'the wire I7, and the wire 18 (which is attached to one of the bearings of the minute-hand spindle) t0 the source of electricity, the contact being continuous, so that the light upon the minute-hand will burn constantly and thus indicate clearly at all times the position in front of the dial.

It is obvious that with clocks embodying my invention it will be much easier to tell the time at night and at a distance than it would be with clocks of ordinary construction.

IVhile in Fig. l I have shown a dial of ordinary form, this detail as well as others ICO might of course be modified in many regards Without departing materially from the spirit of my invention. For example, in Fig. 4; I have illustrated a dial in which the ordinary index characters are arranged Within a transparent ring, upon which the ordinary numerals may be placed, as shown.

If desired, each index character could be formed of a group of lights arranged in a manner similar to that used in forming the letters of illuminated signs. This arrangement could be conveniently used in applying my invention to clocks already in use.

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated, diagrammatically the location or arrangement of the different lamps and the circuit connections thereto, whichhavebeenalreadyfullydescribed. This `ligure also shows a source of electricity I9.

Having thus described my invention, what RICHARD T. CRANE, Jn.

lVitnesses:

HESTER B. Bains, PAUL SYNNns'rvEn'r. 

